# List of presidents of Ohio State University

This list of presidents of The Ohio State University includes all who have served as university presidents of The Ohio State University since its founding in 1870. The Ohio State University is a public research university in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1870, as a land-grant university and ninth university in Ohio with the Morrill Act of 1862, the university was originally known as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. In 1878, in light of its expanded focus, the college permanently changed its name to The Ohio State University.

## History

The first president of Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College is Edward Orton, Sr. who served from 1873 to 1881. During Orton's term, the university became Ohio State University, in 1878. Karen A. Holbrook took office in 2002 and was the first female president. E. Gordon Gee is the only president who served two terms after from serving from 1990 to 1998 and returning in 2007-2013. Michael V. Drake, former chancellor of the University of California, Irvine, assumed the role of university president on June 30, 2014. Drake also serves as the first African American president of the university. On June 3, 2020, it was announced that Kristina M. Johnson, the former chancellor of State University of New York, would be taking over as the 21st president. She was the first member of the LGBT community to openly serve in the position. After serving approximately two and a half years of her five year contract, Johnson resigned at the request of the university's board of trustees.

## Presidents of Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College

| Image | President | Term | Life |
| | Edward Orton, Sr. | 1873–1878 | 1829–1899 |

## Presidents of The Ohio State University

| # | Name | Term | Life | Notes |
| 1 | Edward Orton, Sr. | 1878–1881 | 1829–1899 | Orton Hall is named in his honor |
| 2 | Walter Q. Scott | 1881–1883 | 1845–1917 |
| 3 | William H. Scott | 1883–1895 | 1840–1937 | Three buildings on campus are named "Scott", including Scott Hall. Scott Laboratory and Scott House are not named in his honor. |
| 4 | James H. Canfield | 1895–1899 | 1847–1909 | Canfield Residence Hall is named in his honor |
| 5 | William Oxley Thompson | 1899–1925 | 1855–1933 | William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library and statue named in his honor |
| 6 | George W. Rightmire | 1925–1938 | 1868–1952 | Rightmire Hall is named in his honor |
| – | William McPherson (acting) | 1938–1940 | 1864–1951 | McPherson Lab is named in his honor |
| 7 | Howard L. Bevis | 1940–1956 | 1885–1968 | Bevis Hall is named in his honor |
| 8 | Novice G. Fawcett | 1956–1972 | 1909–1998 | The Fawcett Center is named in his honor. |
| 9 | Harold L. Enarson | 1972–1981 | 1919–2006 | Enarson Classroom is named in his honor |
| 10 | Edward H. Jennings | 1981–1990 | 1937–2019 | Jennings Hall is named in his honor |
| 11 | E. Gordon Gee | 1990–1998 | 1944– | |
| – | John Richard Sisson (acting) | 1997–1998 | 1936– | Sisson Hall is named in his honor |
| 12 | William Kirwan | 1998–2002 | 1938– | The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity is named in his honor |
| – | Edward H. Jennings (interim) | 2002 | 1937–2019 | Jennings Hall is named in his honor |
| 13 | Karen A. Holbrook | 2002–2007 | 1942– | |
| – | Joseph A. Alutto (interim) | 2007 | 1942– | |
| 14 | E. Gordon Gee | 2007–2013 | 1944– | |
| – | Joseph A. Alutto (interim) | 2013–2014 | 1942– | |
| 15 | Michael V. Drake | 2014–2020 | 1951– | Drake Performance and Event Center is not named in his honor |
| 16 | Kristina M. Johnson | 2020–2023 | 1957– | |
| – | Peter Mohler (acting) | 2023 | 1973– | |
| 17 | Walter E. Carter Jr. | 2024– | 1959– | |

## Notes or references

* ↑ Berdahl, Robert M. (October 5, 1998). "Discussion of "Flagship Universities" by UC-Berkeley Chancellor Berdahl". University of California, Berkeley. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
* ↑ "Ohio State president's first week to be packed with meetings". Dispatch.com. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
* ↑ Baird, Nathan; clevel; .com (2020-06-03). "SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson to be next Ohio State University President: Reports". cleveland. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
* ↑ "Ohio State President Kristina Johnson confirms she's made 'difficult decision' to resign". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
* ↑ "Peter L. and Clara M. Scott Gift Supports New Mechanical Engineering Building". Ohio State News. May 15, 2003. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
* ↑ "Hall names reflect honor of past students". The Lantern. 2001-11-12. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
* ↑ "History of Drake Performance Center". Ohio State University. Retrieved June 3, 2020.